2026 NBA Draft Thread

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#76      
the juiceman cometh
Fly Illini Fly! said:
Morez is a much better fit in Dallas than Mara. They already have Gafford and Lively.

Good for him.
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If you're drafting on fit at #9 you're doing it wrong.

Draft best player available and let the chips fall where they may. Drafting on fit gets you Sam Bowie because "What are you going to do with Michael Jordan? You already have Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler!"
 
#77      
DeeIL89
the juiceman cometh said:
If you're drafting on fit at #9 you're doing it wrong.

Draft best player available and let the chips fall where they may. Drafting on fit gets you Sam Bowie because "What are you going to do with Michael Jordan? You already have Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler!"
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Understand Captain America GIF
 
#78      
Fly Illini Fly!
the juiceman cometh said:
If you're drafting on fit at #9 you're doing it wrong.

Draft best player available and let the chips fall where they may. Drafting on fit gets you Sam Bowie because "What are you going to do with Michael Jordan? You already have Jim Paxson and Clyde Drexler!"
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I mean we could say the same thing about Acuff / Wagler. Acuff is probably higher on player boards, but Wagler fits alongside Garland.

Fact is, the “best player available” is cliche and it’s more-so about “tiers.”

If one player is in a completely different stratosphere on your board, then sure, you take that player and figure it out later. But if they’re neck and neck, barely separated… then it does make sense to draft based off of your roster (also, this was the 9th pick, not 1st or 2nd).

Morez and Mara also had very similar draft ranges coming into today.
 
#81      
AndyKaufmanstutor
Morez can’t shoot. Does anyone else think that he’s a late first round talent rather than a top 10 pick? 6’9” guys with a high motor are a dime a dozen.
 
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#85      
the juiceman cometh
Fly Illini Fly! said:
I mean we could say the same thing about Acuff / Wagler. Acuff is probably higher on player boards, but Wagler fits alongside Garland.

Fact is, the “best player available” is cliche and it’s more-so about “tiers.”

If one player is in a completely different stratosphere on your board, then sure, you take that player and figure it out later. But if they’re neck and neck, barely separated… then it does make sense to draft based off of your roster (also, this was the 9th pick, not 1st or 2nd).

Morez and Mara also had very similar draft ranges coming into today.
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Difference between Acuff/Wagler is scouts are split on who is better. Just because Jay Bilas likes Acuff more doesn't make it any consensus.

Don't think I've seen one mock draft or scout in this entire process that had Morez over Mara. Maybe the Mavs scouts did. If so that's fine. But if they took him over fit despite thinking Mara would be the better overall NBA player, that's dumb. That's when you trade back, or draft the better player and then trade him.
 
#87      
jamarvelous31
Anderson is not SLAPtastic, but I kind of hope he's the Bulls pick here
 
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#89      
SescIllini
the juiceman cometh said:
Difference between Acuff/Wagler is scouts are split on who is better. Just because Jay Bilas likes Acuff more doesn't make it any consensus.

Don't think I've seen one mock draft or scout in this entire process that had Morez over Mara. Maybe the Mavs scouts did. If so that's fine. But if they took him over fit despite thinking Mara would be the better overall NBA player, that's dumb. That's when you trade back, or draft the better player and then trade him.
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Dusty May had influence on who they chose. Could have gone with Mara, Morez or Yaxell. May chose Morez, he saw them closely over the last 9 months. Regarding trading down, not always worth the squeeze and you need to find a taker and be certain your pick isn't taken by someone else.
 
#90      
TentakilRex
Hopefully Wagler will develop well for a couple of years and eventually be traded to a real organization ASAP
 
#91      
Fly Illini Fly!
the juiceman cometh said:
Difference between Acuff/Wagler is scouts are split on who is better. Just because Jay Bilas likes Acuff more doesn't make it any consensus.

Don't think I've seen one mock draft or scout in this entire process that had Morez over Mara. Maybe the Mavs scouts did. If so that's fine. But if they took him over fit despite thinking Mara would be the better overall NBA player, that's dumb. That's when you trade back, or draft the better player and then trade him.
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From their POV, they wouldn’t have gotten Morez had they traded back. At least would’ve been super risky.

Let’s say you trade with OKC and they take Mara at 9 …. MIL at 10 takes Burries.

How do you know GSW won’t take Morez? Coming into today, Morez’s draft stock was thought to be higher than Yaxel (who’s pre draft interviews / workouts / intel was questionable for a lot of teams).

IMO, your argument would work better with GSW for taking Yaxel (who goes ahead of Mara, Steinbach, Ament). If they had traded down to 14 or 15, it’s very possible (likely) they still would’ve ended up with him.

…..

FWIW, Dusty had always thought of Morez as the anchor/leader of last year’s Michigan team. Yaxel when he got there had some lethargic personality moments, often cited as he didn’t know “how to work.” But Morez was the barometer of the locker room. His effort was never in question.
 
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#94      
Calvin
Morez had a chip on his shoulder you don't see too often. Should be a great culture guy for toughness and willing to do the dirty work. I can see why Illinois didn't try to keep him given his perimeter shot and fit, but he was for sure worth it for Michigan and his improvement was impressive. Can't argue with a natty.
 
#98      
TentakilRex
DeeIL89 said:
Sam Presti and OKC at it again. Memphis drafts Bennett Stirtz but will trade him to OKC for two second-round picks.
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This sports has some stupid GMs in it especially with a draft where second rounders are like fourth and fifth rounders in the NFL
 
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